Hi everyone. After my bone scan and cat scan came back so good as well as my good levels on my blood work my Dr. feels that because my P.S.A. has been creeping up ever so slightly that I should go off of the casodex. I took my last pill three days ago. Now I just have to wait 6 weeks and see if it goes back down. I at this point am not too worried. It would do no good whatsoever to worry. I remember that old Mad magazine with picture of the dufey looking guy saying "What me worry." It has been a good ride on the casodex and my Dr. hopes that by taking me off now that perhaps down the road I can go back on it if needed. He is also thinking about pulling me off of the lupron for a while and giving my body a hormone holiday. Boy wouldnt that be swell. I wonder if I will get some libido back. It sure would make my wife happy. Not only that but I grow tired of this role reversal that causes me to fake orgasms. LOL, Todddx:06/03/06

Age at dx: 42 age now 45

Treated for sciatic nerve pain 6 months prior to dx.

Heavy amount of blood in urine Unable to urinate

Lung x-ray for pnumonia revealed multiple lesions in each lung

P.S.A. at time of dx. 3216.14

Began lupron and casodex

Cat scan showed large mass in the pelvic area affecting the bladder multiple nodules in both lungs and lymph node envolvement.

Hi Todd,My tests are next week and I get another blast from that dreaded Lupron harpoon. (Already proclaimed to be dulled). And with a 4 month regemin of Casodex my HT vacation will begin in May. My dream is that you and I don't touch the stuff the rest of the year. I am hopeful to get back to the basics of love again. We can believe! Peace!

Brother warrior on PCa you have done decent with the numbers and stats you started with, better than some others with stats ,that would be comparable to yours. I presume the doc gave you casodex prior to Lupron, which is the proper protocol for patients especially higher risk ones, like yourself and even myself to prevent "flare" (in Dr. Strums-book, et al). Of course my brilliant uro-doc missed that and never informed me, I trusted his complete wisdom on PCa(like most people do). Not that I noticed any ill effects, but it still was not wise with high stats patients, and it might have made PCa worse for me.

Is your doc an oncologist or urologist? If he is a urologists, so far looks like all good, but considering your stats you should be treated by a PCa-oncologist for many reasons(if not now, the somewhere down the road is advised), just like surgeons should not do radiations, different ball park and game although looks similar, played differently (analogy here). The uro-doc does not specialize in oncology issues, i.e. systemic cancers and markers, prognostic variables, and alot more biology related stuff, basically. But, people can believe they do, if they wish.

My advice to you is keep studying up on all potential drugs in the PCa fight (again like Dr. Strums book mentions alot of them). Be forward looking in case you have to choose something else, perhaps way down the road (nobody knows time frames). It has been found that drugs sometimes can be revisted and work a second time either separately or in combo treatments, sometimes you have to consider switching to another for a better response or remission (per se). Lots of ways to fight this beast. All of us are fighting it in one form or another. Go to www.yananow.net and see what other protocols and people have done in their journey.

Be vigilant - (group herein would try to be helpful in various ways)zufus- 7 yr. survivor of PCa, Dx-2002, bpsa 46.7 12/12 pos.bio. 75-95%, gleasons found 7,8,9's(newest psa down to .65)-off drugs 2yrs., resumed recently just one particular drug

hey Todd and Tony, I to will be getting a break from Lupron and Casodex after my March shot. I think it would be nice to have libido again, haha I forgot what it was even like. My wife thinks she is a Nun. Good luck guys and we are going to get through 2009 without our numbers rising.

Two weeks of no casodex. I seem to be fighting off a u.t.i. (need more beer ) I have to spend a lot of time on the toilet as well. I hope my body is just making an adjustment. I am worrying more about every little ache and pain and I cant wait for another month to go by to see what the P.s.a. is doing. I feel pretty good though. This step I believe is critical if I am to have a prolonged remission. My wife talks little about it but I can tell it is wieghing heavy on her heart. She talks a little in her sleep. Restless nights have come more often for her. I seem to be getting tired earlier than I was. At 9:00p.m. I am ready for bed. I have also been waking up earlier than usual. My eyes pop open @4:30a.m. Sometimes if I just clear my mind I can go to a place where I never had Pca. When I am there I am not afraid anymore. I day dream of retirement and watching my grandbabies. I think of all the plans my wife and want for the future. I think of many things in the land where cancer doesn't exist. I am never allowed to stay there very long though. I always have to come back to this place. In the real world we dont think about things too far down the road. I think this is the hardest part of having cancer. The truth is none of us know know how much time we have but those who are not sick with a terminal disease are able to plan for the future completely blind of thier own immortality. Ignorance is bliss. Todddx:06/03/06

Age at dx: 42 age now 45

Treated for sciatic nerve pain 6 months prior to dx.

Heavy amount of blood in urine Unable to urinate

Lung x-ray for pnumonia revealed multiple lesions in each lung

P.S.A. at time of dx. 3216.14

Began lupron and casodex

Cat scan showed large mass in the pelvic area affecting the bladder multiple nodules in both lungs and lymph node envolvement.

Todd, the feelings you just expressed were so very accurate, and I sense that many if not most men here have felt at one time or the other, even if they don't want to admit it. I sometimes keep looking for the rewind button to take me back to the bliss before I got my pc dx back in Sept of last year, and sometimes, I even blame myself for being diligant about having regular psa tests, for being so d**** compliant. It's a cruel mind game sometimes, because the longer I didn't know about it, the worse it would become, at least my dr has/had me convinced of that point. I worry about my wife, without me working rightnow, I know she's working way too many hours making up for it, I feel guilty that I can't do all the things for her that i could before, etc, etc. I too had a bummed out day on my own today, but trying to snap out of it, trying to focus on what you were saying in your post, to get out of the funk. You are a great guy fighting a hell of a fight, and now I feel bad because I know you bear must worse burdens because of PC than I am. Perhaps we all need a good cheering up. May only the best happen for you.

Todd, you make me wish I had some musical talent, but there, I am clueless. Which is odd, because all 3 of my children are accomplished musicians. My daughter does vocals and piano. My youngest son does electronic music and is vocals for Din of Thieves, my oldest son plays bass for the same band, and also play jazz all around on an upright bass. Me, my only creative outlet has been my writing of novels. When I feel up to it, ready to start a new book. Glad you have the music to release some of your talent and emotions. Enjoy, brother.